Andrew Preston

Specializing in American history since 1898, Preston’s expertise spans three key areas: America’s global actions, foreign policymaking in Washington, D.C., and the intersection of national and international spheres, with an emphasis on the influence of domestic politics and culture, particularly religion, on U.S. foreign policy. 

Preston holds an undergraduate degree in history and political science from the University of Toronto, a master’s degree in history from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in history from Cambridge University. He brings a wealth of academic experience from institutions such as the University of Victoria and Yale University, culminating in his tenure at Clare College, Cambridge, where he spent the last 19 years. 

Preston’s published works include the critically acclaimed Sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith: Religion in American War and Diplomacy (New York: Knopf, 2012), winner of the 2013 Charles Taylor Prize in Non-Fiction Books, and The War Council: McGeorge Bundy, the NSC, and Vietnam (Harvard University Press, 2006), which is highly regarded for its keen insight into the Vietnam War. He also played a leading role in the publication of the influential Cambridge History of America and the World. His forthcoming work on national security further solidifies his reputation as a leading voice in American foreign relations. 

In addition to four books, Preston has authored numerous articles and edited other influential works that have contributed to his field of study. A frequent contributor to The (Toronto) Globe & Mail, he also has written columns for The Washington Post, The New Republic, The Boston Globe, New Statesman, and the London Review of Books, among other prominent publications. His leadership in historical societies, namely the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations (SHAFR), underscores his dedication to advancing the field. 

Pending tenure and immigration approval, Preston is scheduled to join UVA’s Corcoran Department of History in fall 2025.